Paddleboard yoga in a hot spring

Paddleboard yoga is not new, but doing it in a 10,000-year-old crater fed by a natural, deep geothermal spring takes this popular practice to the next level. It’s one of many out-of-the-ordinary classes hosted by Park City Yoga Adventures in Utah, USA, with the one-hour class held inside Homestead Crater. A door in a hillside opens to a narrow 30-metre tunnel which leads to the still pool of azure water under a high, limestone dome.

A hole in the top of the ‘calcite’ dome allows natural light to filter through – creating a magical effect and providing fresh air. The mineral-rich pool, 32°C year round, contains calcium which is thought to help increase oxygen flow and blood circulation. And, like any hot tub, the heat relaxes the muscles. The water’s buoyancy encourages freer movement and supports joints, while the weightlessness strengthens the pelvic floor and also assists in muscle lengthening. As to the benefits of paddleboard yoga, “alignment in yoga is key,” says Park City Yoga Adventures owner and yoga instructor Julia Geisler. The challenge to stay on the board assists with this alignment.